ABC offered stations
$10,000 as seed money to make an impact in the community and we hope to
make a very big splash. It didn't take us long to figure out what we
wanted to do with the money. We wanted to make a difference with a
military soldiers in our area having a tough time after returning from
Iraq.
Our first family is from Marion County, and everything
was fine when Shawn Lloyd came home until last November when he lost
his job and the bottom fell out. "I've looked for work and we're still
struggling there is no way to make ends meet right now," said Lloyd.
The military was all Lloyd knew. It was the way he provided for his
wife and family until the day he got a small pox vaccination. He had a
reaction so severe it caused him to have a heart attack and crippled
his body.
"It was difficult to be taken out by an inoculation
instead of actual battle where you're expecting to be on the front line
and it's something medical, its just a shot that takes you out and
basically destroys your life," said Lloyd.
When Shawn
recovered his military days were over. Although happy to be home with
his family, last year the family fell on hard times. They have not be
able to recover. Shawn's wife who has tried to work as a teacher has
also struggled.
"We've sat on the side of the road and sold
statutes/statutes I can barely lift...i've cleaned houses, i'm trying
to sell make up anything we can we can make it we try," said Angela
Lloyd. "To look them in their eyes to see your kids fight over food and
can't pay your bills you're going to lose your house we've already lost
one of our vehicles we basically have basic that's it."
The
finances have taken a toll on the entire family. Some veterans groups
are trying to help them...however it has not been enough. "I don't have
any pride in me left", said Shawn. "There is nothing i wouldn't do to
make sure my kids would have any dinner and my have have what they need
i don't really feel like a man."
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